Welcome to the MAS -the Marine Antiquities Scheme

Each year new archaeological discoveries are made by divers, fishermen, boat operators and coastal visitors in England and Wales. The MAS provides a way to record these finds,
both protecting and improving our knowledge of the underwater cultural heritage.

Guided by the approach ‘record any discovery before any recovery’, the scheme allows finders to learn more about their discoveries,
help characterise the archaeological nature of the marine environment, and allow public access to the data for research.

The MAS aims to:

Provide finders with a basic scheme to record archaeological material that is found on the seabed around England and Wales

Contribute to offshore renewable projects by providing a better understanding of the seabed

Establish best practice for finds of underwater cultural heritage

Help guide finders to satisfy the appropriate legal requirements

Increase our knowledge of underwater cultural heritage and history

Generate a publically accessible online database of discoveries that will inform research and study

Recording a find

If you would like to record an archaeological discovery, please use the online recording form
or download the easy-to-use MAS app to your mobile device (for iOS or Android only). This allows you to locate, record and submit information about archaeological material discovered anywhere within English or Welsh waters from the Mean Low Water Level.

Protecting our underwater heritage

Finds left undisturbed as well as those that are recovered can be recorded through the MAS.The expert position is that finds of an archaeological nature should be left in place
so that the character of the marine environment can be appreciated by future generations. Nonetheless finds are often recovered, either intentionally or by accident, so it is important that they are also recorded
before all knowledge of them is potentially permanently lost.

Other positive outcomes:

Promote best practice to everyone who interacts with the marine historic environment

Support the Merchant Shipping Act and help finders to meet their legal obligations in respect of wreck

Download our mobile app

Search our database

Add a new find to our database

Download the MAS

The Portable Antiquities Scheme

Every year thousands of objects are discovered, many of these by metal-detector users, but also by people whilst out walking, gardening or going about their daily work.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme encourages the voluntary recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales.

CITiZAN

The coast of England is under constant threat from wind, waves and winter storms, not only exposing these sites but washing them away before they are ever seen.
The CITiZAN project is inspiring and training volunteers to capture our coastal heritage before it is lost.